tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71300791890105434172024-03-18T22:42:34.988-05:00Sal's Fiction AddictionI love reading books, talking about books and sharing children's and young adult books with anyone who is willing to listen and chat. I have been a kindergarten teacher, a primary teacher, a teacher-librarian, a book reviewer and a workshop presenter for more than 30 years and have an endless, abiding passion for getting great books into the hands of children, young adults, teachers and parents. I hope you find something here that you will love; and then you can pass it on to someone you love!Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.comBlogger5821125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-54111518055194795452024-03-17T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-17T10:00:00.132-05:00What Poo Can Do:How Animals Are Fighting the Climate Crisis, written by Yolanda Ridge. Orca Book Publishers, 2024. $21.95 ages 9 and up <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4khKNBHt90WJsfnrjZ2dh5u06fIJ8-DGExf9ZDdSFJSSFnsThFbIjgKOujYoflHLCbG1ux91_AnEXbjS5lQI6Uzo0ko6N_mBNsUrtTnPRX1YWIWXCHsu-m4dSCUM0-83lh895jvZ0AIyEi-fdd3PZYb8T4YxAj8K1BJ595TfvEKU82yMI1cq6EFCBJTqV/s400/poo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="337" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4khKNBHt90WJsfnrjZ2dh5u06fIJ8-DGExf9ZDdSFJSSFnsThFbIjgKOujYoflHLCbG1ux91_AnEXbjS5lQI6Uzo0ko6N_mBNsUrtTnPRX1YWIWXCHsu-m4dSCUM0-83lh895jvZ0AIyEi-fdd3PZYb8T4YxAj8K1BJ595TfvEKU82yMI1cq6EFCBJTqV/s320/poo.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>"<b>Like wildebeests, gorillas are so important to the health <br />of the jungle trees and plants that they're often called <br />gardeners of the forest. They keep tropical forests (which store 40 percent of the world's carbon) healthy by fertilizing plants with their poop and removing brush that could cause fires.</b>"</p><p>I have great admiration for the books included in the <i>Orca Footprints </i>series. Billed as <i>small steps toward big changes</i>, they do exactly that. Their authors have a consuming interest in their subject matter and provide just enough facts that the books hold interest, while providing important information for young readers interested in making our world a better place. Poo is the 28th book in the series, which started publishing by Orca in 2013 with <i>Down to Earth</i>. That is an amazing run, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Many different things have an effect on our lives, and most have worthwhile solutions when we learn as much as we can about them. These books certainly do their part to keep us informed. </p><p>Everyone is affected by climate change. Animals are included, of course. Just as people can play a role in helping to stem the tide of galloping changes to our environment, animals do it quite naturally. The table of contents lets readers know what they can expect. Any book with the word <b>POO </b>in the title is sure to be of great interest. Looking at the listed chapters allows readers to head directly to what attracts their full attention. </p><p>Will it be <i>burping, farting and pooping it out? </i> I suggest that might be a strong contender. Or, <i>what a load of guano. </i>The chapters talk about whales, wildebeests, dung beetles, and penguins. Each is divided into four or five sections, providing interesting data on how animals help stem climate change and how we can help each species in that fight. End matter includes a glossary, a list of resources, and an index. </p><p>This is another book that provides food for thought, offers pertinent information, and equips interested middle graders with fodder for discussion and research. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-8866861394639360622024-03-16T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-16T12:29:13.208-05:00SEE IT, DREAM IT, DO IT, written by Colleen Nelson and Kathie MacIsaac and illustrated by Scot Ritchie. Pajama Press, 2023. $24.95 ages 11 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xFhEc1jMAUuDRaHawKEOwDAXimTMiWJNYxk_7A6kwMel9fltT9vrvpTHz0IZJu3yVR_zQ_tSMGyCEpVKxKfZxaSe_6hG0e41NymmDDNnu2NihTP8EjhEi_1UYKGDcn2bMzf_ON2jLWDY2ELytotTyZYMf-vZMZQJTEKDgon4mUGjH0Uk3S0xBwYoHekg/s386/see.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xFhEc1jMAUuDRaHawKEOwDAXimTMiWJNYxk_7A6kwMel9fltT9vrvpTHz0IZJu3yVR_zQ_tSMGyCEpVKxKfZxaSe_6hG0e41NymmDDNnu2NihTP8EjhEi_1UYKGDcn2bMzf_ON2jLWDY2ELytotTyZYMf-vZMZQJTEKDgon4mUGjH0Uk3S0xBwYoHekg/s320/see.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>Community advocacy is about <br />speaking up for people who can't do <br />it themselves. Ryan supports and gives<br />a voice to those who have difficulty <br />communicating their views and <br />feelings to others.</b>" </p><p>Ryan Beardy is one of the 25 people, featured in this follow-up book to <i>If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It </i>(2022), who found their dream jobs. Ryan had a tough start in life which escalated into gang activity and time spent in juvenile detention. That was when he began to reconnect with traditional Indigenous healing, partnered with a new interest in writing. Much hard work led him to the work he does today as a community advocate/mentor and coordinator. His story will inspire others to 'turn negatives into positives' - to see value in helping young people find a better path. </p><p>In two-page spreads, middle grade readers will meet dream makers, whose hard work and energetic inspiration has led them to find joy in their choices and work that gives meaning to their lives. The people are as diverse as the careers they have chosen to pursue. From fitness trainer to equine therapist, basketball coach to cave microbiologist, and ambassador to park ranger, readers will be intrigued to learn the many choices available to them as they think about their own future and how it might look. </p><p>The design and the writing style are in keeping with the first book. Sidebars, titled <i>Pro Tip</i>, <i>Why Not Try</i>, <i>Spin-Off Jobs</i>, <i>Living the Dream</i>, and <i>Inspiring Individuals </i>attract attention and offer food for thought. Back matter introduces the team who made this book possible, employment experts who support career quests and give guidance to those seeking ideas,<i> </i>and <i>Try It Out </i>ideas for volunteering, questioning, inspiration, and finding a mentor. An alphabetized glossary and an index are useful. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-49500666666451765742024-03-15T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-15T11:16:05.188-05:00Have You Seen An Elephant, written and illustrated by Elina Ellis. Kids Can Press, 2024. $21.99 ages 4 and up<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3WYwQrE0qXWwBLVYZtuSF-VgZcyfnsiVJtMVNhx8WYjyJ0UmiVztAJnfZl5f4PrBeU2FBtc5iuwV9-OEdFQbdJg3GHuOU3OW1rylowQiLrUw9Fd8NTCj7Dm1PNefLcAlXEjp3-iyc9jo6UwD18lwc7TAGt2qGk2jkzPnGp070pV1G07p0tjKNOth0Swc/s300/seen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3WYwQrE0qXWwBLVYZtuSF-VgZcyfnsiVJtMVNhx8WYjyJ0UmiVztAJnfZl5f4PrBeU2FBtc5iuwV9-OEdFQbdJg3GHuOU3OW1rylowQiLrUw9Fd8NTCj7Dm1PNefLcAlXEjp3-iyc9jo6UwD18lwc7TAGt2qGk2jkzPnGp070pV1G07p0tjKNOth0Swc/s1600/seen.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>Did you know that elephants<br />have poor digestive systems? </b></p><p><b>That's why they are always full of gas! </b></p><p><b>Have a look in my journal.</b>"</p><p>Wouldn't you think that an elephant would be easy to spot? Apparently not! </p><p>Alex is a young explorer with a penchant for elephants; she knows a great deal about them. Since she has not seen a real one, she is preparing for a search. Backpack full and armed with her elephant journal. she sets off. She is bold in her meetings with a giraffe, meerkats, even a snake while asking for help in spotting an elephant. </p><p>It won't take young readers long before they catch on to the joke being played on Alex. While she is intent on speaking with a rhino, observant readers will be quick to point out that there is an elephant right behind her - and it's walking away into the forest! </p><p>When the rhino appears perplexed with the question, Alex pulls out her journal and offers a look at two pages of highly interesting information about elephants, both African and Asian. Three such spreads are shared as she searches. Moving ever onward, she perches herself in a vulture's nest, not knowing that a herd of elephants is walking beneath her. Nothing stops her in her quest, while all the while elephants can be seen on every spread. </p><p>When she is finally ready to give up, Alex offers a clear hint at what's up next. Since elephants are so hard to find, she tells a monkey that she might just start looking for a tiger. </p><p>"<b>I LOVE TIGERS!</b></p><p><b>I know everything about them.</b>"</p><p>Only then does Alex ask an elephant if she has seen a tiger! Kids will be roaring. </p><p>Digital illustrations engage readers with a myriad of details certain to tickle their funny bones. Back matter offers suggestions for creating a journal. Once finished the first, it's easy to start on another. </p><p>Be on the lookout in September for <i>Is This a Tiger?</i> the second book in this promising series. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-43239260069110808862024-03-14T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-14T12:25:15.372-05:00The Last Zookeeper, by Aaron Becker. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 6 and up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr2L8GMR6UMtRDdGupnrXyfPwY6JgKSiJetdjOHqSCNYRBn6yRpDpVkGJtZTvt5RA1o1bfELVQLy5WZr2OYLPCHR0RcfobxTlTNsigf41I5TwnBH3twWUT3xpHVBl4o0inWbcuCvmpX85qwQEg54iC4paXt317dm7zFD5LGzNXl11qbdq8h_Gvfbt0cWO/s299/zoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="299" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr2L8GMR6UMtRDdGupnrXyfPwY6JgKSiJetdjOHqSCNYRBn6yRpDpVkGJtZTvt5RA1o1bfELVQLy5WZr2OYLPCHR0RcfobxTlTNsigf41I5TwnBH3twWUT3xpHVBl4o0inWbcuCvmpX85qwQEg54iC4paXt317dm7zFD5LGzNXl11qbdq8h_Gvfbt0cWO/s1600/zoo.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><p>"<b><i>Only if we understand, can we care. <br />Only if we care, will we help.<br />Only if we help, shall all be saved. </i></b></p><p><b><i> - </i>JANE GOODALL </b></p><p>Oh, my! Aaron Becker continues to amaze with his wordless picture books. The enormous zookeeper here is a robot. The world for the animals is desolate. They exist on water-surrounded bits of land that was once a thriving zoo. They are cared for by their robot friend, who supplies them with the food they need to survive as best they can. </p><p>NOA, as described by letters on its arm, is innovative and persistent in the care it gives to all denizens of this threatened space. In preparation for a departure that seems imminent, NOA fashions a small boat to test its usefulness. The rains come, and further flooding requires immediate action. Noa manages to bring all animals to a safe place before gathering the materials needed to build a bigger boat - an ark that will carry them away from where they are to something better.</p><p>Once construction is complete, they set off. All is peaceful and uplifting, until an oncoming violent storm provides a very real threat to their safety and destroys their tranquil voyage. They are soon shipwrecked in another bleak space. With help from the animals, NOA is revived. Helpless and alone, they stare in awe as another robot approaches and climbs down from the wooden basket of a hot air balloon. Introductions are made before the two load the animals aboard the airship and sail through cloudy skies to a lush tropical island of great promise. Friendship and tranquility are beautifully evident in the final frame. </p><p>No words are needed when the watercolor and pen and ink artwork is so rich and meaningful; when numerous fine details beg readers to stop in wonder at seeing something new every time they revisit its pages; and when a storyteller as talented as Aaron Becker graces us with yet another triumph. Bravo! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ECH876vGyvpInmOesz4853QM-fLOvjl8dlQvCCo3whVxaxQbmAIJPs2KVRTq4xmcJDKIeuFSRkC-7nP0DlYK6_aRT-vkM_aFhVLzJzy2LagEeBb75-7mbqIyyAxEaGJ1guhD7ocJnCzEUUXQkqWWi0dz5rn9j4mfQTg744h4RnGcrc1KyHor31gHsqPq/s337/zoo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="337" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ECH876vGyvpInmOesz4853QM-fLOvjl8dlQvCCo3whVxaxQbmAIJPs2KVRTq4xmcJDKIeuFSRkC-7nP0DlYK6_aRT-vkM_aFhVLzJzy2LagEeBb75-7mbqIyyAxEaGJ1guhD7ocJnCzEUUXQkqWWi0dz5rn9j4mfQTg744h4RnGcrc1KyHor31gHsqPq/w400-h178/zoo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/OiuEmynKaD4?si=bXyiyh0WUU4djRIl">https://youtu.be/OiuEmynKaD4?si=bXyiyh0WUU4djRIl</a> </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-37487472671290081312024-03-13T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-13T11:32:12.653-05:00Simon Sort of Says, written by Erin Bow. Scholastic, 2023. $21.99 ages 10 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhROJk01mkWF8cYNF926UyqR5GDdLATZwuXhjdT89wx1dRSfMz05swXZIn54eTzN503lfTv7TwU5PlAVRsNws33KIIa7BVxgUxQ4iYCiODnGgXdjiyqwB8hOEHrtX6shBwGG0vxp_MoKaEHyEi4FeXCaDDLFxzgUr29Fr2PrFAKL_VugNJfKCIPWNxBA/s360/simon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhROJk01mkWF8cYNF926UyqR5GDdLATZwuXhjdT89wx1dRSfMz05swXZIn54eTzN503lfTv7TwU5PlAVRsNws33KIIa7BVxgUxQ4iYCiODnGgXdjiyqwB8hOEHrtX6shBwGG0vxp_MoKaEHyEi4FeXCaDDLFxzgUr29Fr2PrFAKL_VugNJfKCIPWNxBA/s320/simon.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>By the time the police walked me out of <br />Eagle Crest Elementary that day, it had <br />already been forty-seven minutes. <br />I know the exact number because the <br /><i>Omaha World Herald </i>published a big <br />timeline and I memorized it. Every bit <br />of it, from the school secretary phoning <br />911 at 9:56 to when the police got the <br />whole place swept and finished taking <br />the kids out at 10:43. <br />So, when me and two of the officers <br />scuttled out the back door with somebody's<br />body armor heavy and flapping around me, <br />the media was already there.</b>" </p><p>This was my book to read while I was riding my stationary bike as part of my recuperation from knee replacement surgery. It was very hard to stop reading when it was time to stop cycling. To that end, it took me a little longer to read than I wanted. It is a compelling story, written with a sense of mystery as the story begins. </p><p>Simon's narrative voice is sarcastic at times, as well as poignant, angry, humorous, empathetic, and fearful. Simon has good reason for every one of those emotions as readers eventually learn his full story. He and his parents have just moved to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska ... a town that is awash with huge radio telescopes. Living in this scientific community means you agree to live without televisions, cell phones, microwaves, and internet. </p><p>Grin and Bear It provides work for both his mother (funeral director) and his father (church deacon), and it is perfect for Simon as he doesn't want anyone knowing what has happened with him over the past year. It takes some time for readers to learn that Simon was the lone survivor of a school shooting in Omaha. It has been a long year in which Simon was homeschooled and attended many therapy sessions to help him deal with the notoriety and the trauma of his experience. </p><p>He just wants to be a normal kid in a new school in a new town. What he does is make new friends, help to train a service puppy, and eventually learn that it's impossible to escape your past, no matter how hard you try. In telling his story, he introduces us to a wonderful, humane cast of characters. The story's core is in the past; its lingering trauma is evident on many levels. Erin Bow's adept and sensitive text allows readers to live with the terrifying feelings that continue to plague Simon in various situations. It also gives such tremendous value to friendship and understanding, empathy and support. </p><p>It is deserving of every accolade it has received since its publication last year. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-57341422404043611322024-03-12T10:00:00.000-05:002024-03-12T18:33:57.819-05:00Beatrice and Barb, written by Kate Jenks Landry and illustrated by Vivian Mineker. Kids Can Press, 2023. $23.99 ages 4 and up <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNtb0QLuGXE8i52fwudK3qDXsstFHj9gUCqq3pXCA5rORdWwIpFjQkMS6-AG50DHqA3C-aa5xmcDjxzGV2RVcY-rBroyjfW8U_wao7UFOs2oNaR_BTO5HT4geIzqLRC1kVBV_h8c5aVUFnfs2ZQw2W1XQHcw9z2f-9RsiR8JbP-j5OWqL6-chDwuvLChr/s659/barb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="595" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNtb0QLuGXE8i52fwudK3qDXsstFHj9gUCqq3pXCA5rORdWwIpFjQkMS6-AG50DHqA3C-aa5xmcDjxzGV2RVcY-rBroyjfW8U_wao7UFOs2oNaR_BTO5HT4geIzqLRC1kVBV_h8c5aVUFnfs2ZQw2W1XQHcw9z2f-9RsiR8JbP-j5OWqL6-chDwuvLChr/s320/barb.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br />"<b>Despite all of Beatrice's love and care,<br />Barb seemed unhappy. Her beautiful <br />pink color faded. Her leaves withered<br />and dropped. </b><p></p><p><b>Beatrice wondered if perhaps Barb was <br />lonely. She asked her friend Leo to bring <br />his dog, Lucy, over for a playdate.</b>"</p><p>Beatrice, like almost any other kid you may know, wanted a pet. Asking her mother for a dog, cat, hedgehog, or small horse resulted in the same negative reply. Her mother was willing to make a compromise. Beatrice could have a plant. </p><p>If you had a lot of guesses, I'm not sure you would come close to guessing what Beatrice feels is a worthy choice. Barb was not anything like what she had imagined; I mean who would choose a Venus flytrap as a pet? That is just what Beatrice did. </p><p>Beatrice cared for Barb to the best of her ability, and in all the best possible ways. Still, Barb began to fail. Lucy didn't know how to help. The vet didn't know how to help, being the animal specialist that she was. She did suggest new soil and fertilizer. That only made things worse. Only when Beatrice noticed that the vet had left another solution in the event of an emergency, did she try something new. </p><p>Beatrice quickly biked Barb to a plant shop where she was given the exact advice she needed to help her very unusual and discriminating pet. Knowing how truly special a Venus flytrap was only upped Beatrice's pride in Barb. </p><p>Bright digital artwork matches the book's tone of warmth and concern for all living things. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-83892195464531743642024-03-11T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-12T16:08:41.248-05:00I'm Afraid, Said the Leaf, written by Daneille Daniel and illustrated by Matt James. tundra, Penguin Random House, 2024. $24.99 ages 3 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4uXfLamfKJov0iEK3yWhey_yjitfivlp5o70H7G3p7qvc7OapxPoFgC0QU-U42dHzkKQ4K2V4vXHF0Mo2HYqXUqHWsAzSL4lp3NHPjBNe_Ive1tggGZr7NVwV6YC7ZQgLANVCmufQpOKVEOrwLyfPmoyjg3v-CgJfNRqTZ7nFkT4wmRwm2u8iTb5jsRQ/s500/leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="500" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4uXfLamfKJov0iEK3yWhey_yjitfivlp5o70H7G3p7qvc7OapxPoFgC0QU-U42dHzkKQ4K2V4vXHF0Mo2HYqXUqHWsAzSL4lp3NHPjBNe_Ive1tggGZr7NVwV6YC7ZQgLANVCmufQpOKVEOrwLyfPmoyjg3v-CgJfNRqTZ7nFkT4wmRwm2u8iTb5jsRQ/s320/leaf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>I'm so thirsty, said the skunk.</b></p><p><b>Have a drink, <br />said the stream. </b></p><p><b>I'm so lonely, said the crab. </b></p><p><b>Come and join us, said the fish.</b>"</p><p>As the sun rises, a small girl plays in sand on the beach. A lone leaf floats nearby, expressing fear at its predicament. A tree reminds the leaf it is not alone. As the child takes note of all that is happening around her, other statements are made by one thing and allayed by another. The wind will lift a tiny bird afraid of flight. The sun will warm a chilly horse. A nut will feed a hungry squirrel. </p><p>The call and response format offers assurance for young readers that things are going to be okay. Matt James uses bold colors and powerful spreads, created with his signature acrylic paints, to further enhance those feelings. The child is ever-present, discovering the many ways that nature is a generous companion. The worries are real, the needs are obvious, the solutions are quite lovely. </p><p>After a long day of observation and travel, the child has a concern of her own; she is very tired. The moon offers solace. What are you doing for others? </p><p>In an author's note, Ms. Daniel explains that we all 'need each other for support and survival'. </p><p>"<b>We are better and stronger together, which is why<br />it's important we take care of our planet and each <br />other. We are all one big family.</b>"</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-22613907353820192572024-03-10T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-12T15:32:35.790-05:00Angela's Glacier, written by Jordan Scott and illustrated by Diana Sudyka. Holiday House, Penguin Random House.2024. $25.99 ages 4 and up <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzegXWKgFIRWPtSapI2zA6OfE6job2H_bkAzUrlTur_vvHM61vprGfvPVwa5YJVFDaC6_b8o8kiiWzmzC8DXUWbGvNz4YS9PyBrfUt1qo2mDLCW0P2kSt14OqiNVwSMVUMXmKEcTR34PuUHbe1ru56ZwFkauQ6ycWW6dTT5zpOgPz6qgPS9BrPPBN5X_7/s300/ange.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="299" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzegXWKgFIRWPtSapI2zA6OfE6job2H_bkAzUrlTur_vvHM61vprGfvPVwa5YJVFDaC6_b8o8kiiWzmzC8DXUWbGvNz4YS9PyBrfUt1qo2mDLCW0P2kSt14OqiNVwSMVUMXmKEcTR34PuUHbe1ru56ZwFkauQ6ycWW6dTT5zpOgPz6qgPS9BrPPBN5X_7/s1600/ange.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br />"<b>As Angela grew, <br />she started walking <br />up to the glacier by herself. </b><p></p><p><b>And day after day, <br />month after month, <br />year after year, </b></p><p><b>Angela went to her glacier <br />to feel and listen. She listened<br />to the temperature: she listened <br />to the colors; she listened to wind<br />and water play together in the snow.</b>"</p><p>After reading <i>I Talk Like a River </i>and <i>My Baba's Garden, </i>I was excited to see that Jordan Scott had a new book about a girl named Angela who had an enduring love of an Icelandic glacier. Our family has Icelandic connections through my husband's family, and we have tried to keep an interest for that history alive for my granddaughters. They are always keen to learn about Iceland and its many wonders. </p><p>Angela's glacier was obscured by clouds before her birth; on the day of her birth, it changed under the Arctic sunlight to colors of gorgeous blues. Her father wrapped her carefully before they ventured into the cold. From where they stood, he explained that the glacier was showing its delight at her arrival. There was great excitement at the discovery. </p><p>The glacier, named Snaefellsjokull, provided sights and sounds that would inspire child and parent through all her years of growing up. They walked and walked, discovering the flora and fauna of the region, always with the glacier as their backdrop. As they hiked and wandered, he repeated the glacier's name endlessly. Eventually, Angela was old enough to go out on her own. Her visits were many; her love for its sounds, colors, and cold gave her comfort always. </p><p>"<b>Angela let the glacier listen to her too. <br />She'd whisper about what scared her,<br />like owls and falling off her bike.</b></p><p><b>And she'd whisper about how much <br />she missed her dad when he left for <br />work each day.</b>"</p><p>Snaefellsjokull was always there. When life got too busy, she no longer made those same visits. She felt the loss in her heart. With a reminder from her father, she returned to the glacier. As she arrived, she felt the rhythm of its name once more. Knowing that life was not going to be less busy for her, she made a promise to her glacier ... and to herself. </p><p>Artwork is beautifully created using digitally enhanced gouache watercolors, in shades of blue. </p><p>A bond with nature is a powerful thing. Angela learned that early, thanks to her father. In an afterword, Jordan Scott reveals that Angela is a real person who taught him how to 'be still and listen'. Further to that, Angela explains how important learning to listen is to each and every one of us ... no matter what we are listening to. She also explains that, with global warming, Snaefellsjokull is now predicted to disappear within fifteen to twenty years. It will be a terrible loss. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDnWGUQ16HW1V2ovKe8QgpCgVA1tuZFasvw_g_v4ojDVXXBp3UzoOgFMYuSYv4hkWssIfqWquem2xfBJ91J1Txp2YN-yR6NwoqDNDEQxXSpvTU8hI3GpBZLXwkoSkbfUGLwb46UW9ZzU1yem_NS-lENBqbzbekK-oqTZzR7SRLBh8ZpjO8yoaimM7lgLm/s318/ange1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDnWGUQ16HW1V2ovKe8QgpCgVA1tuZFasvw_g_v4ojDVXXBp3UzoOgFMYuSYv4hkWssIfqWquem2xfBJ91J1Txp2YN-yR6NwoqDNDEQxXSpvTU8hI3GpBZLXwkoSkbfUGLwb46UW9ZzU1yem_NS-lENBqbzbekK-oqTZzR7SRLBh8ZpjO8yoaimM7lgLm/w400-h200/ange1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-22250150114828472182024-03-09T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-11T23:22:48.774-05:00The Three Little Mittens, written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Natalia Shaloshvili. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2023. $23.99 ages 3 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtjvOgLwF63I1o0WdY8EZNMFW9Ubcy89S5CrDsMgHHSeXarf9A1d6nVUMcexsHxrspaBj8i4AZtKcpeqa5O931D97hTK635aRVEqV7vJe6-7MsYgwD-oqu7m6n0YLcsI2MioOljI6UiayskR0O1TMs-ClfBeSpbA5aHI1GFLEchbZfpfEmPxw6WJh1Wak/s300/three.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="300" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtjvOgLwF63I1o0WdY8EZNMFW9Ubcy89S5CrDsMgHHSeXarf9A1d6nVUMcexsHxrspaBj8i4AZtKcpeqa5O931D97hTK635aRVEqV7vJe6-7MsYgwD-oqu7m6n0YLcsI2MioOljI6UiayskR0O1TMs-ClfBeSpbA5aHI1GFLEchbZfpfEmPxw6WJh1Wak/s1600/three.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>And that's when the mittens heard a very BIG <br />voice. "Excuse me," said the voice. "I have a <br />question."<br />The mittens gasped in shock. They looked waaaay<br />up. It was the Little Girl! <br />"Why do you have to match?" she asked.</b>"</p><p>While Dotty and Other Dotty are a 'pair' of mittens that exactly match each other, Stripes has no match. The Dotty pair are aghast, reminding Stripes that the Little Girl will never need a blue striped mitten as she only has <i>two </i>hands. Stripes thinks there must be a reason for being in the Little Girl's pocket. But, she never gets to do anything that is fun. </p><p>When the Little Girl loses a Dotty, she decides to wear Other Dotty and Stripes. Other Dotty is not at all pleased with the situation until the two mittens get to know each other. As partners, the two come close to being friends. What a surprise when Stripes meets up with Other Stripes! They are quick to dismiss Other Dotty ... she will no longer be needed. The Little Girl has only <i>two </i>hands. Luckily, their owner is pragmatic; she wants to know why mittens must match. </p><p>Too often, mittens are lost. Too often, there are mittens that don't match. Is there a solution to this common dilemma? Little Girl thinks there is. She is absolutely right! The surprise ending is delightful! </p><p>Artwork, created using acrylics and watercolor pencils, give the feel of a cozy, warm mohair blanket. Readers will want to reach out and touch the fuzziness of the expressive images. I love that the children who follow in the Little Girl's footsteps are as diverse as the mittens that find new purpose on their hands! <br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObjbW8_ARDNUcCImyFXyz_JbAugYm0gLyv2xs6i5azKEEISMf86tUF-7GzO1CpcUe-E8vOBMI9t_1KHLn6KWeIqu6xWwpYOL9_KM3or2FyrxZTv_4tD3vfeOdxl6-pq7ptTjj8G9kSNllyK6dScEqcps9X232sItncfy0z1U0zpyA8oeJ2BTQHMUHxI9-/s342/mitts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="342" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObjbW8_ARDNUcCImyFXyz_JbAugYm0gLyv2xs6i5azKEEISMf86tUF-7GzO1CpcUe-E8vOBMI9t_1KHLn6KWeIqu6xWwpYOL9_KM3or2FyrxZTv_4tD3vfeOdxl6-pq7ptTjj8G9kSNllyK6dScEqcps9X232sItncfy0z1U0zpyA8oeJ2BTQHMUHxI9-/w400-h173/mitts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-80945561957517572052024-03-08T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-10T17:21:26.181-05:00Ferris, written by Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 9 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOY9Qo2kYpaZ9zrKnGi_CFmsMR-YsmHPUwXseSjYft2Gcq0Ql2BMKjx5yZYSIckf0YlDVruK78EXBsO9BLNS_RF_HxG0tp2gX1TVQ68KeXkCyqfCRocKzm0vveKX1snEZ8sWtJjI_PSMjnMmOYQBVGOAxJx-1quHjdLRhzGEB21qtfSPcwT5myZdIWBVTc/s426/ferris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOY9Qo2kYpaZ9zrKnGi_CFmsMR-YsmHPUwXseSjYft2Gcq0Ql2BMKjx5yZYSIckf0YlDVruK78EXBsO9BLNS_RF_HxG0tp2gX1TVQ68KeXkCyqfCRocKzm0vveKX1snEZ8sWtJjI_PSMjnMmOYQBVGOAxJx-1quHjdLRhzGEB21qtfSPcwT5myZdIWBVTc/s320/ferris.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>'</b><b>This here is on the house in honor of all <br />the words you have given to my son and <br />his friend Ferris Wilkey.' Because I had <br />told Pop about how you and me felt about<br />those Mielk words - that it was terrible to <br />memorize them, but good to have them, <br />and how, in the end, we felt grateful to <br />her. I had told that to Pop.</b>"<b> </b></p><p>I do so hope that you are a Kate DiCamillo fan. If you are, you will be happy to have this new book in your hands as quickly as possible. If you are not, this is a perfect way to learn about her incomparable storytelling, and meet just some of her most memorable characters. </p><p>Ferris has finished her year in fourth grade, and is spending the summer in the midst of circumstances that prove the beauty to be found in love. It starts with her family and her best friend, Billy Jackson. Her grandmother is happy to repeat the story of Emma Phineas Wilkey's birth, which fully explains why she is called Ferris. Ferris's family consists of her father, mother, little sister Pinky, and her grandmother Charisse. Her Uncle Ted is living with them at the present time after leaving his wife to work on a history of the world in the Wilkey basement. </p><p>Billy Jackson is her constant companion and has been since kindergarten. Billy plays the piano incessantly, as he hears the music of the world at all times. Charisse, her beloved grandmother, is teacher and sage. She tells Ferris she sees an unhappy ghost at her bedroom door. Pinky, her little sister, is a cantankerous annoyance whose dream is to be an outlaw; she does her best to become one. Boomer, their dog, is an equally indispensable part of their family. </p><p>Ferris and Billy just spent fourth grade with Mrs. Mielk, whose daily vocabulary lessons help Ferris make sense of the noteworthy summer moments. In her matchless way, Kate DiCamillo manages to engage readers with each of these singular characters and the magic that love brings when a person is open to it. It is a gift to all. </p><p><i>Every good story is a love story. </i></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-23715750248803588762024-03-07T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-09T18:09:08.227-06:00My Mama Is a Work of Art, written and illustrated by Hana Acabado. Running Press, Hachette. 2024. $22.99 ages 4 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OUbmZ4gJb-CjpaRDNS-pkAif-aQDOJYdFlvwaltSKqcZmkr17SxFTYV-7EZjL9Heo-PlSyuGzNts8SLl33pQeSPulesR1QM6WKO702GIGwIoeiKEt9KkazgI1HcwDKv8_NJUQlnhsauRum-wZOAEDoCPwiPDJiAT-Riqq5jYSRmN0kOJNs1yEzqmBExO/s600/mama.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OUbmZ4gJb-CjpaRDNS-pkAif-aQDOJYdFlvwaltSKqcZmkr17SxFTYV-7EZjL9Heo-PlSyuGzNts8SLl33pQeSPulesR1QM6WKO702GIGwIoeiKEt9KkazgI1HcwDKv8_NJUQlnhsauRum-wZOAEDoCPwiPDJiAT-Riqq5jYSRmN0kOJNs1yEzqmBExO/s320/mama.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br />"<b>Memories and lifelong dreams etched<br />artfully on their skin. </b><p></p><p><b>My Mama is a work of art. </b></p><p><b>When we go out, my Mama <br />Gets attention everywhere.</b>"</p><p>In a world where so many people feel entitled to have a say about almost everything, whether it has anything to do with them or not, I found myself cheering for the young boy who tells this story. He wants readers to know that he sees his Mama as a real piece of art. She just doesn't need a frame. </p><p>She is covered in tattoos that have meaning for her. She is proud of every one of them. The child, while sitting in his mother's lap, points out pieces of art that are part of who she is. He explains that her right arm is testament to her life story ... one that says "<i>Hey, world, this is me!"</i></p><p>As the two make travel through their community, they see others who have tattoos that help to tell their life stories. Reactions from those who don't know them vary: they all pay attention, but some don't seem to appreciate what is so important to his Mama and to him. Different people like different things. It is the way of the world. </p><p>His mother has taught him an important lesson that helps him deal with the silent stares. </p><p>"<b>I learned from her to treat with kindness <br />everyone I see -</b></p><p><b>Tattooed or bare, I should not care, but just <br />let people be.</b>"</p><p>Would that we all were taught the same lesson. A scene at the end of the story shows Mama returning to her favorite place whenever she wants 'to honor a memory' with a new piece of art. That is as it should be! <br /></p><p>Joyful, colorful art celebrates diversity in character, and body art. It's a wonderful way to get a conversation started. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-62343110716270106142024-03-06T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-06T14:42:50.735-06:00Major Taylor; World Cycling Champion, written by Charles R. Smith Jr. and illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2023. $24.99 ages 5 and up<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYMAsT-wFg9Iz0xRm4tNDG7NCCgUM2s_hIwKZvSz1nkab5_zQuQZlYanvcuELE5kmxzf5RM8LWIAVqWxeYASHL44qFzevV9NvTJX1eN-ZQMHNOn8Iqiqg04YunCw3ugCvmjMHwCq8RMCt83sqzb3ddMIl89SnkMX8VLV_hBb3idOSNVH3f9aGHNU4z3dv/s397/major.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYMAsT-wFg9Iz0xRm4tNDG7NCCgUM2s_hIwKZvSz1nkab5_zQuQZlYanvcuELE5kmxzf5RM8LWIAVqWxeYASHL44qFzevV9NvTJX1eN-ZQMHNOn8Iqiqg04YunCw3ugCvmjMHwCq8RMCt83sqzb3ddMIl89SnkMX8VLV_hBb3idOSNVH3f9aGHNU4z3dv/s320/major.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>Faster and faster<br />and faster around the track, <br />pump those legs, Major,<br />to break away from the pack.</b></p><p><b>Just an eighteen-year-old boy<br />racing against men, <br />pedal, Major, pedal,<br />make those wheels spin.</b>" </p><p>Marshall Taylor's racing career begins when he is just 13 years old; a ten-mile road race he is not keen to enter. The bike store owner convinces him to try. He wins! Three years later, he chooses a long- distance race; seventy-five miles from Indianapolis to Matthews, Indiana. Fifty begin, and Marshall is the only racer left at the end. A few races follow, including one where he is disqualified for being Black. </p><p>Later that same year, in December, he enters the Six-Day Race at Madison Square Garden. He is an 18-year-old boy, racing against accomplished men in the grueling challenge. He is the only Black rider. On the first day, he rides 300 miles. It is his intention to prove just how good he is, in spite of his age and race. Charles Smith chronicles Marshall's growth as a racer over the six days of the race. In this way, he shows readers the strength, stamina, and unique riding ability of a racer few know.</p><p>"<b>A military jacket that <br />made you stand out<br />made you look regal<br />gave you some clout, <br />so they called you "Major"<br />because you commanded attention<br />when you performed on your bike<br />with speed and precision.</b>"</p><p>With thirty minutes to go on the sixth day, a two-bike crash knocks him out. His eighth place showing, after riding over 1700 miles, makes the racing world take notice. It isn't long until 'Major' Taylor is a world champion!</p><p>The poetic text is lively and emotional, with accompanying digital artwork that perfectly matches the action of a young racer on his road to greatness. Readers will want to know more. To that end, Mr. Smith provides a useful look at Major's life story - from great joy to utter despair. The final two pages provide a timeline for <i>Major's Milestones</i> and a bibliography for further reading. </p><p>"<b>One hour of sleep<br /> for every eight on the bike <br />kept you in the race, <br /></b><b> but you fought to stay upright</b>." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6yA6He2ygUuC9RIMDR8gfS3ud10WBcsLneyOe3E_JOwIzY7_4UVm2TyeWn2mRIQrujqrRR7X8VgkBRGwuKBq0KsCmvm_p-9z3SSshcKf2wRzL-z1XD5lnS0KtnELPGBM6I1C2gNszJSYIIvusB_duqxniY0hDHxvFoG26bjQOJe4My24qwShlgjOKS8C/s275/major1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6yA6He2ygUuC9RIMDR8gfS3ud10WBcsLneyOe3E_JOwIzY7_4UVm2TyeWn2mRIQrujqrRR7X8VgkBRGwuKBq0KsCmvm_p-9z3SSshcKf2wRzL-z1XD5lnS0KtnELPGBM6I1C2gNszJSYIIvusB_duqxniY0hDHxvFoG26bjQOJe4My24qwShlgjOKS8C/w400-h266/major1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-2615924252883045222024-03-05T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-05T10:00:00.348-06:00Pretty Ugly, written by David Sedaris and illustrated by Ian Falconer. Astra, Toon. Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 7 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iD3XGWq3W7s7dAHTc0JFDeYXsvQ5D1iHdUIRpuDxIvIqD7nNIfRhoOn25INZWS4m9zpSW1NCen3Fp4UuXdd_NEac6vZ3TnbXXygYaveJvJYkb2-1LoJZzzz0kbqrfUR4Qvc0MVi_tI-aYYgof55SziTGZTscwOoXLExkJo6-fLrCrMNp8pyZbrWAQ5Nd/s387/ugly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iD3XGWq3W7s7dAHTc0JFDeYXsvQ5D1iHdUIRpuDxIvIqD7nNIfRhoOn25INZWS4m9zpSW1NCen3Fp4UuXdd_NEac6vZ3TnbXXygYaveJvJYkb2-1LoJZzzz0kbqrfUR4Qvc0MVi_tI-aYYgof55SziTGZTscwOoXLExkJo6-fLrCrMNp8pyZbrWAQ5Nd/s320/ugly.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>And you'd better be <br />careful, or one day your<br />face will stick like that. </b></p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Says who?</i>"</p><p>Anna Van Ogre is, for all intents and purposes, a very good daughter. With her two front teeth, the wart on her nose, and pointed ears, she is exactly what any ogre parent would want in their child. She loves stomping on flowers, throwing dirt through the front door, and talking with her mouth full of the nails she devours. It is a proud family, including Grandma. </p><p>There is one small problem. Anna loves to make awful faces. They are faces a human might love; they do not fit the mold in a family of ogres. There is a worry that one day a face she makes will stick. How on earth will the family deal with such a thing? Then, it happens. </p><p>"<b>Mom. Dad ... Grandma ... <br />Somebody ... I think <br />I need help!</b>" </p><p>Indeed, she does. Anna is now a perfect replica of a kewpie doll ... bright eyes, long eyelashes, rosy, chubby cheeks, and kissable lips! A visit to the doctor offers no solution. While the family remains loving and kind, Anna sees herself as a 'monster'. She can't help it! Her grandma reminds that 'real beauty is on the inside'. All the other ogres agree with Anna's perception of herself. In response, she moves to the woodshed, saying she will never leave it. However, she does spend time thinking about what Grandma said about beauty. </p><p>Anna takes that advice to heart, and leaves readers with one whale of a surprise ending! </p><p>Oh, what a book! I can hardly wait to share this with someone. I LOVE it! And so will most kids!!! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnC2WshMfkzjc5XTcoSeycP_XUukL8b1wsaHzybZF5EamM3kQ58AeVtjPYUzez5RrDEIKMGkfNDV4xEP2zV4q6gtOYnWfIyfYLVjlg0S0Y3IKIfZTNewYQ7xVLiL4UFXs7sqd3xe_Y9ZjYy-4OYQyQOaUTCzg9-OmbsD9WXzDVEeBzSmWTM17FkY4zasD/s283/ugly1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="283" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnC2WshMfkzjc5XTcoSeycP_XUukL8b1wsaHzybZF5EamM3kQ58AeVtjPYUzez5RrDEIKMGkfNDV4xEP2zV4q6gtOYnWfIyfYLVjlg0S0Y3IKIfZTNewYQ7xVLiL4UFXs7sqd3xe_Y9ZjYy-4OYQyQOaUTCzg9-OmbsD9WXzDVEeBzSmWTM17FkY4zasD/w400-h252/ugly1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-81613014583785767032024-03-04T10:00:00.000-06:002024-03-04T10:00:00.138-06:00A Way To The Stars, written by David Almond and illustrated by Gill Smith. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2023. $24.99 ages <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnfdkDQiHWTyejkVI3QifJ5rraAVegTeJXmZgQP1O_DWFjch-yULDY7oRC1ti3sc0_rlN9LT6zmgZFLQ2swjkgSfk7J2VaUqXcq9-xKnszJjPySjWuVyuUomt1PzC_dUyrMpnrxmFeMylyCjq9fFGSLQZyo9fAyn8aSVUASSPa6Hqp7MmwxKPRJKbJ57L/s397/stars.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnfdkDQiHWTyejkVI3QifJ5rraAVegTeJXmZgQP1O_DWFjch-yULDY7oRC1ti3sc0_rlN9LT6zmgZFLQ2swjkgSfk7J2VaUqXcq9-xKnszJjPySjWuVyuUomt1PzC_dUyrMpnrxmFeMylyCjq9fFGSLQZyo9fAyn8aSVUASSPa6Hqp7MmwxKPRJKbJ57L/s320/stars.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>They worked harder. <br />They worked faster. </b></p><p><b>A trampoline.</b></p><p><b>A pair of wings. <br /></b></p><p><b>A <br />pogo <br />stick. </b></p><p><b>A cannon! </b></p><p><b>Up! Up! Up! Up! No! No! No! No!</b>"</p><p>It is Joe's wish to find a way to the stars. His friends laugh; his dad says he'll help. What more can a kid ask? Dad encourages thinking, then follows through with any suggestions Joe makes. Up a ladder he goes; until a branch breaks, he falls and Dad is there for the rescue. Time for another think. </p><p>What about a tower? It's worth a try. They gather as many cardboard boxes as they can find, and put together their tower. It's pretty precarious! Dad is sure Joe is right when next he suggests a rocket ship. Alas, the flight is rough, but the landing is soft. Both are willing to try again. </p><p>The ideas keep coming, as do the failed attempts. Together they laugh. Dad wonders about giving up. Jess is adamant that they keep trying. Finally, their attempts and their ever-evolving ideas pay dividends when they build a shed, and head inside. What they do there is absolute perfection! </p><p>"<b>This was how Joe found <br />a way to the stars.</b>"</p><p>Mixed-media scenes of this father/son pair are filled with love and joy. Comfortable together and eager to find a way to make Joe's dreams come true, their expressions and escapades are sure to delight young readers. That never-give-up attitude makes this a perfect read aloud book in early years classrooms. <br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoh6O9ebnN8fbhrGT5rK5FrJ2msZzZiur9Wla6XWUpvO11aHx8z3JwyPT7dk9VOVjgpeM2nv6_EOGtv96gLp90HnItxzlXjqT1ROXZRcJBzUUeuS5IaHsUc7NPL62Dic-nd9YTF9U32UZME9g0yHJy2yuS1fulZo6ZtP0Plc9llM30pZUe3YHogsn47Nmy/s275/stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoh6O9ebnN8fbhrGT5rK5FrJ2msZzZiur9Wla6XWUpvO11aHx8z3JwyPT7dk9VOVjgpeM2nv6_EOGtv96gLp90HnItxzlXjqT1ROXZRcJBzUUeuS5IaHsUc7NPL62Dic-nd9YTF9U32UZME9g0yHJy2yuS1fulZo6ZtP0Plc9llM30pZUe3YHogsn47Nmy/w400-h266/stars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-63460482932203540012024-03-03T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-03T10:00:00.152-06:00Every Dreaming Creature, written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2023. $23.99 ages 4 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXNEzLcR_00dJA9AxFSprYqfNB9qYCcxTnPBywb_OEPSZG732jXXKzrUoA_9fwvr1t3YvfjR6kNlN5iWrqcAf02K9O47QRYzWNj1g_CC46hcDo_ugcAd5j10t_BuUbUycQThagwa956XCuPPpxoJnLv1csslofUA06quxa4V5VsmJ36J63o1TRRa1_p-x/s299/every.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="299" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXNEzLcR_00dJA9AxFSprYqfNB9qYCcxTnPBywb_OEPSZG732jXXKzrUoA_9fwvr1t3YvfjR6kNlN5iWrqcAf02K9O47QRYzWNj1g_CC46hcDo_ugcAd5j10t_BuUbUycQThagwa956XCuPPpxoJnLv1csslofUA06quxa4V5VsmJ36J63o1TRRa1_p-x/s1600/every.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div><br /></div>"<b>A prowling tiger ... <br />until you came, with vibrant shades, <br />and woke me from that dream. </b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Then there I was. <br />A bold performer, changing costumes. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Then there I was. <br />A brave explorer, burrowing below.</b>"<br /><br />This remarkable book begins with a child dreaming of being a 'sleeping salamander'. With turns of the pages, the animal in one dream becomes another. Readers are observers to the changes and of the ways in which nature is connected, one animal to the next. The alluring mixed-media artwork carries the dream from page to page, transforming it as it moves forward. </div><div><br /></div><div>The salamander reaches out to an octopus whose whirling shape dances on the waves, until it awakens from its dream to become an elephant, and so on. Each is placed on the spread within its own ecosystem and shows connections between them. The joy found in these wondrous images invite readers to peaceful sleep at bedtime, to want to know more about the animals as each enters the story, and to encourage a love for all animals in our world.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Such is the beauty for children that they can imagine themselves within the bodies of the ever-changing creatures. In final spreads, the young human narrator/dreamer is shown, inhabiting a world of 'play and wonder' while full of 'funny thoughts and comfort and family'. Only at bedtime does he dream once more of being a salamander. The circle closes; then begins again. </div><div><br /></div><div>What a splendid celebration! <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsDwq-aeBPW2EHTVoClG91au1-SVKSg_lpm_eX9hPUCJrDRMA33ZFkHb7Bg_yFKqPma4nCf29ez6zqCmHQspByBlyO7gDHOfPTv49vNiaTMsTpIMgVsJha2LoJyaWn45jcv654CNZD1I7hjlimCvGHU0A6xEEjtiyAYnEomOCyW4U1rvJAK_pMBpqvkvJ/s362/dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="362" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsDwq-aeBPW2EHTVoClG91au1-SVKSg_lpm_eX9hPUCJrDRMA33ZFkHb7Bg_yFKqPma4nCf29ez6zqCmHQspByBlyO7gDHOfPTv49vNiaTMsTpIMgVsJha2LoJyaWn45jcv654CNZD1I7hjlimCvGHU0A6xEEjtiyAYnEomOCyW4U1rvJAK_pMBpqvkvJ/w400-h154/dream.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p> Caldecott winner Wenzel cultivates senses of empathy and imagination in this appreciation of the ways other creatures experience the world, resulting in a buoyantly reverent celebration of the myriad wonders and complexity of life on Earth. The simple poetry of the narrative creates a glorious conversation starter: Who is the dreamer? Dazzling. </p></div></div>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-77743295151823184212024-03-02T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-02T10:00:00.154-06:00Wildful, by Kengo Kurimoto. Groundwood, 2024. $22.99 ages 9 and up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76U_FZa9u6tx9eT1mt1R0zHP1KWVz2GTRCB43KbeR4-rC62Seo6pbkaCA99-xz8tG5ViOWNghf2ho7WWKlvQglA1IhEr2DhjgPVuFMlNyyhoCiae-2ILAV3XqKRnyAnioO7cylAk0cRIjUZCxASHtgakST4cZ06260n1-oFERZlVaDf1hffbI4_pxBzQO/s500/wild.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="500" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76U_FZa9u6tx9eT1mt1R0zHP1KWVz2GTRCB43KbeR4-rC62Seo6pbkaCA99-xz8tG5ViOWNghf2ho7WWKlvQglA1IhEr2DhjgPVuFMlNyyhoCiae-2ILAV3XqKRnyAnioO7cylAk0cRIjUZCxASHtgakST4cZ06260n1-oFERZlVaDf1hffbI4_pxBzQO/s320/wild.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>"<b>Are you OK? </b></p><p><b><i>She was looking <br />right back at me ... <br />that tiny little bird ... <br />she really saw me.</i></b></p><p><b><i>I hope we didn't scare <br />her too much. </i></b></p><p><b>She'll be OK.</b>"</p><p>It starts with walking her dog. It's clear she is not paying attention to where they are or where they are going. Eyes on the phone in her hand and headphones offering listening pleasure, she is unaware whenever the dog wants to stop or notices something of interest. On they go! </p><p>As they come to a broken gate, the dog notices a fox at the entrance. The dog pulls away, and tears through the gate in hot pursuit. The girl follows, searches, fights her way through old tree branches, and finally, trips down a hill. As she continues looking for Pepper, she takes note of her surroundings ... dilapidated, neglected. From the top of a brick wall, a young boy points her in the direction Pepper has gone. It's a great start to a tale that makes perfect use of visual storytelling. </p><p>Exploring the natural environment together, time passes quickly. Rob leaves. Poppy realizes she needs to get home. Once there she tries to tell her mom, who is languishing on the sofa in a house filled with work that must be done. Poppy and Pepper return the following day, and meet up with Rob again. His interest and knowledge about the old forest is inspiring. It leads to more meetings, more enjoyable observations. Poppy wants to share her enthusiasm for nature with her mother, who is grieving Poppy's grandmother's death.</p><p>The transition from dependence on the digital world to immersion in nature is subtly handled. Few words are needed as the beautifully realistic artwork provides details of both flora and fauna in the forest setting. Listening to birdsong and gazing in wonder at all that is happening around her provides a solace that she wants her mother to share. </p><p>This is Kengo Kurimoto's debut novel. I will be on constant watch for his next. </p><p>Outstanding! </p><p>"<b>What does the wild speak?</b>" </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-70124228687445240472024-03-01T10:00:00.001-06:002024-03-01T10:00:00.143-06:00Firefighters to the Rescue! Words and pictures by R.W. Alley. Kane Press, Astra. Penguin Random House, 2023. $24.99 ages 4 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJqaZtCLhqXIBwu_upUciGVLGYGMJwLz2ZQQ0mxbdIEdrhvnb0ohmt83lYoSOfoLw9CHswOmYp3EXAd39ee7FMX7sVHcEaCN550ul36bGyaTIxV4bAdK37Pglej8rUaiuj91OpTxgWW6gUL_ZW3PQEh9-M6f45uIuR4B5LWzGWR0PoihYXQN3xF5ITxzZ/s388/fire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJqaZtCLhqXIBwu_upUciGVLGYGMJwLz2ZQQ0mxbdIEdrhvnb0ohmt83lYoSOfoLw9CHswOmYp3EXAd39ee7FMX7sVHcEaCN550ul36bGyaTIxV4bAdK37Pglej8rUaiuj91OpTxgWW6gUL_ZW3PQEh9-M6f45uIuR4B5LWzGWR0PoihYXQN3xF5ITxzZ/s320/fire.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><p></p><p>"<b>Officer Puffin grabs<br />the headset and sounds the alarm. </b></p><p><b>The officers scramble into their <br />turnout gear. It weighs forty-five <br />pounds! </b></p><p><b>Hit the lights! Blast the sirens! <br />Firefighters to the rescue! </b></p><p>Little ones will absolutely fall in love with this book the minute they see the endpapers. Breezy Valley is shown in all its glory, and will surely captivate those who want to know more. The town itself is action-filled with appealing characters and scenarios sure to inspire imagined tales of its many happenings. Look to outlying regions and there is even more to see and discuss. It's a great introduction!</p><p>Turning to the open scene, readers will be well aware of many of the town's inhabitants and much action. It is abuzz with early morning goings-on, including the changing of the firefighting team at the fire department. The retreating shift is tired after a long day and night. Those arriving are keen to get to the work of a new day. </p><p>Each member of the team prepares for the day by changing into their uniforms, setting up essential gear, and having a listen to Chief Piggie's checklist of the work to be done. There is a lot of it! A clanging bell, and unknown trouble calls the entire crew into action. Experts at getting ready are soon on their way to do what needs to be done. </p><p>Following spreads provide cross-sections of the pumper engine, the ladder engine, and the brush-breaker truck. A bird's-eye view of the town shows the route the trucks take to get to the scene of concern. The troublesome Tabby Twins have got themselves in a pickle by climbing to a precariously high position at the Big Scoop Ice Cream Shop. Luckily, the firefighters are good at the work they do; soon the twins are safe and sound on the ground. </p><p>Before they can leave, a fire erupts in the ice cream shop and the crew must use their equipment and valuable skills to put that fire out before much damage is done. With that in hand, they move on to a small fire caused by a floating ember in the nearby field. Their training serves them well, and soon their third problem is under control. </p><p>Their work is not nearly done. They head back to the fire hall, and do all that needs to be done in order to be fully ready for the next alarm. Cleaning themselves up, and taking time to rest and relax is what's next for all. That is, until ... </p><p>"<b>BRAANNGG!<br /> BRAANNGG!<br /> BRAANNGG!</b>"</p><p>Duty calls once more! </p><p>There is no lack of energy in the spreads created for young readers. The artwork is packed with details that will inspire and excite all who share this book. Stories will be told, memories shared, and a great deal learned about the workings of a firehouse. Bravo to those who put their lives on the line to protect and serve their communities. Back matter extends the learning in all the best ways. </p><p>I look forward to the next Breezy Valley story ... this one's planned to honor Hospital Heroes! Goodness knows they well deserve attention for the wonderful work they do every day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFinsB5iC6UWasiEkgLgQeD2CdoRfxHqgWRKWfd5nA6Kt_qPB_4e4ofyiN4fc-06bLnmpo-_BQ36hq8hqOzK-5ARac9sVkNBtSkNhNUppC7sWH19GvGhqpCdZ6RbesOxiXtKGravkhSKo1sNxKGlsXD8-H2wFbCBA-sdr6Iv1gopcsDGWZ95ywqHJzB-4/s294/fire1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="294" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFinsB5iC6UWasiEkgLgQeD2CdoRfxHqgWRKWfd5nA6Kt_qPB_4e4ofyiN4fc-06bLnmpo-_BQ36hq8hqOzK-5ARac9sVkNBtSkNhNUppC7sWH19GvGhqpCdZ6RbesOxiXtKGravkhSKo1sNxKGlsXD8-H2wFbCBA-sdr6Iv1gopcsDGWZ95ywqHJzB-4/w400-h234/fire1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-524476799829201232024-02-29T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-29T19:58:40.186-06:00All That Grows, words and pictures by Jack Wong. Groundwood. 2024. $21.99 ages 4 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrh6IN7hEOXHoPKUzU3FXtpJ-z1ze9cq9c7opWCGZPUEDcrEBrrqP5h4HYSRAp6iWb6UBK_tMZTyHS7wVx7O6SW_iKRe2qwzPgKOb4AvXqaqRs40qcnlJ2cj2ITVKwrKPmTuWIdL7qqvbMfVBtswOzoB7nNAYFdEsUZEN2sZLPnUYaPeMZ8zSRb4StNif/s300/all.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="300" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrh6IN7hEOXHoPKUzU3FXtpJ-z1ze9cq9c7opWCGZPUEDcrEBrrqP5h4HYSRAp6iWb6UBK_tMZTyHS7wVx7O6SW_iKRe2qwzPgKOb4AvXqaqRs40qcnlJ2cj2ITVKwrKPmTuWIdL7qqvbMfVBtswOzoB7nNAYFdEsUZEN2sZLPnUYaPeMZ8zSRb4StNif/s1600/all.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>When daffodils start <br />popping up everywhere, <br />even in muddy ditches, <br />my sister tells me they're<br />the flower of Mother's <br />Day. We pick a bouquet<br />to give to Mom - after<br />rinsing off the dirt, of <br />course.</b>"</p><p>I read this from Jamie Oliver today: <i>Tonight, the sun will set around 6pm and won't set before 6pm again until 29th Oct. </i>I love just thinking he is absolutely right. It gives hope for the arrival of spring as days get longer, and sunnier! </p><p>This wonderful new book by Jack Wong is testament to that as well. The young child who narrates this homage to growing is on a neighborhood walk with his sister. As they go, smelling the flowers and checking out all they see around them, she teaches him about plants. They return home with some of the first daffodils of the season for their mother. </p><p>The world turns green. Now is the time for his sister to teach him about gardening, too. The weeds in her garden appear out of nowhere, covering her many vegetable seedlings. It is a lot of work for both to keep those weeds at bay. Together they work. As they do, she shares what she knows. Some of what he is learning has him wondering: </p><p>"<b>I wonder why some plants are called <br />flowers, and others are called weeds. </b></p><p><b>And how some can be both, like goutweed, <br />which people used to call ground elder and <br />planted in flower beds on purpose.</b>"</p><p>How does his sister know so much about plants and gardening? How on earth will he ever know what she knows? When tiny white flowers emerge from the ground, he is surprised to learn she doesn't know what they are. She will have to do some research. The boy observes that they are both learning, and he gains confidence in trying some of his own gardening. It's reassuring to learn that everyone has something to learn. </p><p>As in previous books, Jack Wong's artwork impresses. His pastel images command attention for his use of light and shadow, perspective and its effects on the reader. It has a warmth that is both reassuring and impressive. <br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFnw-JB3YTZr1IdC4WoNR5wXmDgxRtQhly45NefMnqFVgVkxSkuX2YtT2FaxfE7FiFWXyYLI2SjFzZt_48YN0tPzqtStr9b0ifWTdKkquCs3yoH74w9mgmAIlKGRw2gSOTiAdXyd10d2fe_oqgip7UgFUvd00MJIpIOm1VUhEoFMXE9fJ8u1O9Y0PHXyt/s343/grow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="343" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFnw-JB3YTZr1IdC4WoNR5wXmDgxRtQhly45NefMnqFVgVkxSkuX2YtT2FaxfE7FiFWXyYLI2SjFzZt_48YN0tPzqtStr9b0ifWTdKkquCs3yoH74w9mgmAIlKGRw2gSOTiAdXyd10d2fe_oqgip7UgFUvd00MJIpIOm1VUhEoFMXE9fJ8u1O9Y0PHXyt/w400-h171/grow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-44451794991024423572024-02-28T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-29T16:22:56.000-06:00Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior, written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Bridget George. Foreword by Autumn Peltier. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2023. $24.99 ages 6 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uFlgdXuoJSxgl6fpQ_tptWMgkZDezvC_AfYDivNN57JC8sxSn-yFuteKRMpH7BCBb-chwtBfKVzCTYf0xuMgvA_Fv_uHkauBthSWRzpDiHcTOzh67IgOrI0FwgX2PZjkFIBc1mpDb-5ll2978RREU-0Vb93ll8Uxq0zncUqijLabXRcR8sxSJOSxQ1kL/s300/autumn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uFlgdXuoJSxgl6fpQ_tptWMgkZDezvC_AfYDivNN57JC8sxSn-yFuteKRMpH7BCBb-chwtBfKVzCTYf0xuMgvA_Fv_uHkauBthSWRzpDiHcTOzh67IgOrI0FwgX2PZjkFIBc1mpDb-5ll2978RREU-0Vb93ll8Uxq0zncUqijLabXRcR8sxSJOSxQ1kL/s1600/autumn.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>When Grandma Josephine <br />journeyed on to the spirit world,<br />Autumn, her great-niece, <br />began to use her voice for me. </b></p><p><b>Autumn is the seventh generation. <br />She honors me through ceremony, <br />offering up asemaa and prayers<br />for my health and well-being.<br />I know Autumn, and Autumn knows me.</b>"</p><p>In a story that follows <i>We Are the Water Protectors </i>(Roaring Brook, 2020), the collaborators for this picture book biography celebrate the lives and legacies of Aunt Josephine Henrietta Mandamin and her great-niece Autumn Peltier, both Indigenous activists in the fight to protect the Earth's waters. </p><p>The water (<i>nibi</i>) tells its own story here. The Anishinaabe people did their best to revere and protect water until others came along with no concern for the water itself. As they brought machinery that destroyed the land, hurt the wildlife living there, and left pollution in their wake, the women had to work diligently to make their voices heard. </p><p>Josephine started the movement with a walk around the Great Lakes to bring attention to the problem. When she died, Autumn walked in her place to speak for the water. She spoke about her concerns and her reasons for being unhappy with the choices being made. She talked about the importance of water for life on Earth; she will never give up what her great-aunt started. People have started to listen; there is still much to be done. </p><p>"<b>Speak for the water.<br /> Sing for the water. <br /> Dance for the water.</b>"<b> </b></p><p>A foreword by Autumn Peltier prefaces the story, and back matter includes worthwhile information about Josephine Henriette Mandamin, Water Walker, and Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior. A glossary follows, as well as inspiration to keep learning. </p><p> “<i>In our culture, we look at water as a living being, and we’re taught to treat it with the same respect we would show another human</i>.” </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta4S754BXyHSOyJxxeBIDB_LP5ervR00Man4kcm4CptnynVn7N-r-QhirMQxwR4P7wdDcDBiH1jfZ9vFjg90cYs5enj8nlJLDOH5s6bYukja4RtNWVKUgV9dZgTdIeACd3-w7EyT8e9tiIJ5hZSRJg0h5ll0eSF4D82mkvndz5fJykz6VB5wXbe_b5Mx9/s318/aut.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta4S754BXyHSOyJxxeBIDB_LP5ervR00Man4kcm4CptnynVn7N-r-QhirMQxwR4P7wdDcDBiH1jfZ9vFjg90cYs5enj8nlJLDOH5s6bYukja4RtNWVKUgV9dZgTdIeACd3-w7EyT8e9tiIJ5hZSRJg0h5ll0eSF4D82mkvndz5fJykz6VB5wXbe_b5Mx9/w400-h200/aut.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-66437978772528027842024-02-27T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-29T15:40:04.770-06:00Enough Is ... Written by Jessica Whipple and illustrated by Nicole Wong. Tilbury House Publisher. 2023. $25.99 ages 6 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh7HY0db6OXKVvyiF2cXIW4M9lVwcNfL_ZywjHRzg2Faki9H5lcC3ANdAwUGuANY6PUFCdPrAGA0f8SQFSenl8RSEei3uQqvm5fpHWFVaue32ZxsjVsgVeHkFfqcwJrt3KCGWpnb3Ag_klgLSLB7GzyYdP7ssmshCQ7Zu4os0XHC8iCY6NbeMuaEV7VqF/s236/enough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="236" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh7HY0db6OXKVvyiF2cXIW4M9lVwcNfL_ZywjHRzg2Faki9H5lcC3ANdAwUGuANY6PUFCdPrAGA0f8SQFSenl8RSEei3uQqvm5fpHWFVaue32ZxsjVsgVeHkFfqcwJrt3KCGWpnb3Ag_klgLSLB7GzyYdP7ssmshCQ7Zu4os0XHC8iCY6NbeMuaEV7VqF/s1600/enough.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>Enough breakfast might be a waffle <br />without strawberries because someone<br />else needs the berries more than you do.</b>"</p><p>In this world we live in, where too many people are barely able to provide food for their families and meet their other needs while others spend untold amounts of their money on frivolous, expensive items that have no lasting impact for themselves or their families, we need to stop and ask ourselves: <i>when is enough ENOUGH? </i></p><p>Our kids need to learn to answer that question for their own lives, as they deal with so much social media and peer pressure to fit in with others and have what others have. It is vitally important to be able to take the time to really consider how much any of us need. Can you have too many clothes? Too many toys? Too many books before bed? Too much food? I could go and on ... and I am sure you would have much to add to the conversation. </p><p>"<b>Somewhere between a little and a lot, there is Enough. <br />It might be hard to spot, but it's always there.</b>"</p><p>It is a tough concept for adults, as it is for the little girl whose mother is helping her understand the difference between what she wants and what she needs. It is hard to understand when you see so many others with what you think you need. If time is taken and thought is given, it eventually becomes clearer. Enough isn't a number. As the words explain what enough really is, the girl's awareness and her happiness grow as she learns the value of sharing what she has, when she has enough. </p><p>What a concept! The warmth displayed in the illustrations perfectly match the tone of Ms. Whipple's gentle text. Young children will be very interested in taking close looks at the various scenes. The older the reader gets, the more thought-provoking it becomes. Imagine the discussion! </p><p>When will you reach your limit? </p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/Xewi2TV-MRg?si=Jrka8cRKf4bvYem-">https://youtu.be/Xewi2TV-MRg?si=Jrka8cRKf4bvYem-</a></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-16146736861505251162024-02-26T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-27T16:59:36.450-06:00Mouse & Giraffe, written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Jen Corace. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2023. $25.99 ages 3 and up<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8TsH3Qo2j1_C5IU5icEBuPvfqeuvdn7a46P7u898RTQ4r0_RfFqjbagVgPCJfqThSzE2j31ZCBks_kORBvbg5DlZCaNTeYV9ZK5hJgWLHzRKgXGxtz0cben5IkHod9vFbzsRxkck6MapzitptkPX_olVgYBVKC4U6oMar73O0kZE3uoCzrmXoDBRQu49/s431/mouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8TsH3Qo2j1_C5IU5icEBuPvfqeuvdn7a46P7u898RTQ4r0_RfFqjbagVgPCJfqThSzE2j31ZCBks_kORBvbg5DlZCaNTeYV9ZK5hJgWLHzRKgXGxtz0cben5IkHod9vFbzsRxkck6MapzitptkPX_olVgYBVKC4U6oMar73O0kZE3uoCzrmXoDBRQu49/s320/mouse.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>Giraffe stopped twirling and frowned when <br /> he saw some of Mouse's belongings float <br />past him. He gathered them up and placed <br />them on Mouse's porch.</b>"<b> </b></p><p>Being neighbors can be tricky; if one is a mouse and one is a giraffe, and both are argumentative. It starts with the weather. Giraffe is concerned with the heat. Mouse enjoys the comfort of the sunshine. Giraffe moves to the shade while Mouse just gets hotter and hotter. </p><p>Another day dawns with Mouse smelling vegetable soup on the early morning breeze. Giraffe is positive the smell emanates from Bear's gooseberry pie. They cannot agree. It turns out their perspective makes all the difference. When Mouse is atop Giraffe's head, he smells gooseberry pie. When Giraffe bends to the ground, he smells vegetable soup. </p><p>Both quickly run for home with a thunderstorm's loud approach. Decked out in rain gear the following morning, Giraffe is gleeful about the rain while Mouse complains that his house nearly washed away. Mouse is furious, Giraffe is not. Will they ever find common ground? </p><p>As he frolics, Giraffe notices some of Mouse's belongings floating past. He returns them to Mouse's porch. The following morning, the two meet once again. This time their argument is about the moon! When Mouse doesn't show up at the mailbox the following morning, Giraffe notices. Offering and accepting help, the two finally find a way to be friends. </p><p>Young readers will be quick to note the very different perspectives. Why is Giraffe's head so hot? Why does the rain bother Mouse so much? Artwork, created with gouache, ink, and pencil provide clear context for the very different sizes and viewpoints, and an impressive setting. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-36874916970056780102024-02-25T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-27T16:31:55.462-06:00Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku. Written by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2024. $25.99 ages 6 and up <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4sObCX9WK2VL5BJez4mNWc5ObRovm0xL4X4LNJXejYNbUrBfCpHmuM7N1DHPGmGuBoLzMNKyQy-NJj-ToAzQuIOu1QhHpcoVEbHShZ0Hv2tYdVO_PoSD5SZs6g4xv0LjIhrNtCYA7cq3ZutgJGSvv0DnskYs5PbtozPTPaLw1EItn4fEByPMHmCB6FVP/s300/climb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="300" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4sObCX9WK2VL5BJez4mNWc5ObRovm0xL4X4LNJXejYNbUrBfCpHmuM7N1DHPGmGuBoLzMNKyQy-NJj-ToAzQuIOu1QhHpcoVEbHShZ0Hv2tYdVO_PoSD5SZs6g4xv0LjIhrNtCYA7cq3ZutgJGSvv0DnskYs5PbtozPTPaLw1EItn4fEByPMHmCB6FVP/s1600/climb.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>"<b>melting drifts - <br />layers tell the stories <br />of winter storms </b></p><p>A young child and his family spend their day hiking a dormant volcano: South Sister in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. They can see from their camping site, in the early morning light, a blazing red crest that offers welcome. It's cool when they begin. The boy is anxious to leave the bothersome mosquitoes far behind him. </p><p>As they hike, his senses are fully engaged in all that surrounds him. He adds his footprints to the many others that have walked the trail. Passing close to a quick-moving stream, the boy asks to change their course, where he finds tiny toads on the path. The old rock, once molten lava, is everywhere. The wind is cold. There is much to see as they climb higher and higher: snow, animal tracks, a lake that provides a place to rest, a snack, and the noise their feet make as they continue upward. The boy is always aware of the sights and sounds that mark their climb. </p><p>Haiku poems describe their entire climb as he shares his awareness of nature and its many facets. Heading back is much easier that the day's ascent. and the evening rest at their campground is much appreciated, but for the mosquitoes. It's been a grand adventure. Once comfortable back in his sleeping bag, he has a final thought. </p><p>"<b>trying to sleep - <br />what mountain will I climb<br />next? </b></p><p>In back matter, poet Curtis Manley adds further information about climbing a mountain, notably South Sister, and the geology of the Cascade Range. He also offers advice concerning personal needs for climbing a mountain and asks potential climbers to leave no trace of having been there, except footprints. There's also a short description of the haiku poetic form, before artist Jennifer Mann adds mixed media images of the living things they have seen on their trek up and down the mountain. Further information, including a list of books and websites, is added. </p><p>"<b>the glint of cars <br /></b><b>from where we camped - <br /></b><b>not even specks</b>"</p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-3803982369170281682024-02-24T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-26T12:19:23.624-06:00I Lived Inside a Whale, written and illustrated by Xin Li. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2024. $24.99 ages 4 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GOwlhkkKPDmIwq5quIKl21pAHZ46GaYv9pfDmAAMcgobC5WiCOd069piIszOdpSRFHNm_z-L-y6Lp3W4IP-nCtyPJRx65sOo5eU7gljnbYLufnszeId8VTWOCnMcKLuhyphenhyphenelV_J3ZDSQfPmQPCm17FeXMwYxYbeyLLsewkJFM8DbY0bvAxLjK8Dhzlmyb/s500/whale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GOwlhkkKPDmIwq5quIKl21pAHZ46GaYv9pfDmAAMcgobC5WiCOd069piIszOdpSRFHNm_z-L-y6Lp3W4IP-nCtyPJRx65sOo5eU7gljnbYLufnszeId8VTWOCnMcKLuhyphenhyphenelV_J3ZDSQfPmQPCm17FeXMwYxYbeyLLsewkJFM8DbY0bvAxLjK8Dhzlmyb/s320/whale.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p>"<b>Okay, let's make a<br />deal: If you act like<br />you're NOT here for<br />half the day ... </b></p><p><b>then I'll acknowledge<br />that you ARE here<br />for the other half.</b>"</p><div>On front endpapers, readers meet a little girl and learn quite a lot about her by looking carefully at the artwork. She's sitting on a beanbag whale with a Do Not Disturb noticed attached to its tail; she is reading a book about whales and is surrounded by other books in a bookcase-lined room; she is part of a family of five as is shown in a picture on the wall; she has a toybox with scuba gear and a horn; there are party decorations strewn about; and stuffed animals as companions. A close look occasions questions, as well as a chance to make some assumptions about her. </div><div><br /></div><div>The title page shows that same girl, microphone in hand while quietly announcing "<i>Once upon a time ... I dreamed of a world that was quiet</i>'. A turn to the first spread shows a noisy living room filled with happy children, party paraphernalia, two adults and a lot of noise! She is not at all pleased with the goings-on. Outside a rainstorm and deafening traffic add to the cacophony of sounds bombarding her ears. </div><div><br /></div><div>After reading about the blue whale, she has an idea. Using artistic skills, she fashions a blue whale for herself. Its mouth is wide open and ready to welcome the child and the boat she has built to transport her many belongings. Her imagination then allows her to sail the seas, and make a home for herself in the belly of that whale. The silence inside is a balm for her soul ... until another kid shows up. He is the very antithesis of what she feels she needs. </div><div><br /></div><div>He is very loud and dramatic, talking constantly without much worry about whether she is listening or not. He finally acquiesces to her offering an opinion on what they should be doing. Her response is the above opening to this post. Surprisingly, he agrees and keeps his promise! She is impressed and keeps hers as well. She reads to him, and he listens. His only wish is to hear more and more stories. </div><div><br /></div><div>"<b> ... stories I made up ...</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>... and even stories from my life, stories<br />I had never told anyone outside the whale.</b>"</div><div><br /></div><div>Knowing her wish to live quietly, the boy offers grand advice and helps her learn to make room for those needed moments of calm. Even though they don't last ...</div><div><br /></div><div>Lovely digital artwork, created using pencil, watercolor and gouache, is a gift to the senses for all who share this story. Young readers will see themselves in some of the scenes. For all, learning to find your voice and using it for storytelling is joyful. </div>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-8287304419212645492024-02-23T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-24T10:25:43.245-06:00The Night Tent, written and illustrated by Landis Blair. Holiday House, Penguin Random House. 2023. $24.99 ages 3 and up <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ijRaA-7Jbn0t-0NL9_9U0ANCtIubt2uvaBpibE9bOROlhIfE11DESaN96YKqr4xI_dAU72iPUrxio2GB3LxvugFQE3B1hnHmdpdnpClicwhK0tweYX5oo8VsizDdjnmLUzoIBEz18Sbi6ROawWWe7Dtt55rPv8HwCaGR4JVKYL4BhQfPiYfLiMD9lKAX/s385/tent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ijRaA-7Jbn0t-0NL9_9U0ANCtIubt2uvaBpibE9bOROlhIfE11DESaN96YKqr4xI_dAU72iPUrxio2GB3LxvugFQE3B1hnHmdpdnpClicwhK0tweYX5oo8VsizDdjnmLUzoIBEz18Sbi6ROawWWe7Dtt55rPv8HwCaGR4JVKYL4BhQfPiYfLiMD9lKAX/s320/tent.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"<b>Watson had never seen stars like these <br />before, and the stars had never seen <br />someone like Watson. They twinkled at <br />him. </b></p><p><b>And Watson twinkled right back.</b>"</p><p>Watson should be sleeping. He is certainly tired when it is time for bed. Sleep will not come; there is much to be concerned about in the dark of night. What might be under his bed? Only when he notices light coming from under the covers does he see 'the stars'. Yes, there they are twinkling at him, and causing him to do some twinkling of his own. What wonder! </p><p>Nor only are there stars; there is a whole world hidden under his blanket. Since Watson isn't sleepy, he decides to proceed and see where his adventure might take him. First, it's a winding path that leads he and his tiny stuffed kitten to a forest. It is a bit of a worry, but Watson isn't sleepy yet. On the two travel, along the ever-winding pathway where creatures prowl and mean no harm. Some join Watson's adventurous trek. </p><p>A trolley ride is next. It takes Watson over a long trestle bridge that winds above the forest and all the way through an ancient city and over the sea to a train station situated beside a tall tower. Although yawns are now evident, Watson isn't yet sleepy. He slowly makes his way up the tower's steps to emerge to a scene that shows the entire 'night tent sky'! Now is the time to leave the comfort of the tented covers, settle in without further worry, and dream about the stars. </p><p>What a wonderful nighttime world is created in deep blues and purples to give the book a distinct bedtime vibe. Watching as Watson gets sleepier and sleepier offers a comforting, humorous tone for this imaginary romp before sleep overtakes. </p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130079189010543417.post-63557138410320830032024-02-22T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-24T06:04:06.810-06:00Sometimes I Feel Like An Oak, written by Danielle Daniel and illustrated by Jackie Traverse. Groundwood, 2024. $19.99 ages 4 and up <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x3sRG2j7XNjmBwxqm0ruPNrWqbJBtd43unbSvLayRRH2TOT5klVR5FvOmFNGNFgG3JvdDepFieJhILNkw9nQSu26PsysTdJvRVv0VeiLFs7BjYxfM51JqQhf1jYWwJ2lXmJL5S_rVsSL4qA7t81-Vq3dg8ND_hmShBwCdWaq4EXGwBrUt19HxS474qY5/s1024/oak.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="866" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x3sRG2j7XNjmBwxqm0ruPNrWqbJBtd43unbSvLayRRH2TOT5klVR5FvOmFNGNFgG3JvdDepFieJhILNkw9nQSu26PsysTdJvRVv0VeiLFs7BjYxfM51JqQhf1jYWwJ2lXmJL5S_rVsSL4qA7t81-Vq3dg8ND_hmShBwCdWaq4EXGwBrUt19HxS474qY5/s320/oak.webp" width="271" /></a></div><br />"<b>Sometimes I feel like a birch, <br />smooth and fresh, anew. <br />My curling bark peels gently away<br />with bright and brimming hope.</b>"<p></p><p>This is a companion book to the first two in the series: <i>Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox </i>(2017, Groundwood), a book about totem animals, and <i>Sometimes I Feel Like a River </i>(2023, Groundwood), a book that celebrates our relationship to nature. This third book of poetry explores the beauty to be found in trees and the seasons of nature. It begins early in the spring and extends through the beauty of winter. </p><p>Twelve different trees are mentioned in a child's four-line poem to describes one attribute. It might be the flowing sap of the maple in early spring, the 'soothing scent' of the cedar as it is carried on a summer wind, or the bark of an ash that feeds small animals. There is teaching in the poetry, as readers have a chance to learn a little about the trees that are a part of their environment. </p><p>Ms. Daniel's love of nature and the trees that are part of it is evident in the words she writes. Jackie Traverse's full spreads, rendered in bold, textured acrylics and gouache, place the tree front and center on natural backdrops sure to appeal to readers. The final two pages revisit each of the trees in thumbnail sketches, describing the attribute evoked by each for the author. She finishes with a question for her audience. </p><p>"<b>Maybe you have favorite trees that you like to visit. <br /></b><b>What do you see in the trees around you?</b>" </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa8aghBM5b5dx4UW3SiUXUyOCJ3w8AB9dazUWPlh7RtyrV8wcjc9O5QMajOn3mI6aNZO0M2pqfaNboSvmhKtLskLrGhH2yJK-S_XRXWNNr7evsJd_DHBosKCU7jhc5U5dNHgOMwOAHXBEGt87mfDkAFN48CNtzSD7ZBlwlH6UhmVnG4ctz8EKTxvnmSDU/s288/oak1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="288" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa8aghBM5b5dx4UW3SiUXUyOCJ3w8AB9dazUWPlh7RtyrV8wcjc9O5QMajOn3mI6aNZO0M2pqfaNboSvmhKtLskLrGhH2yJK-S_XRXWNNr7evsJd_DHBosKCU7jhc5U5dNHgOMwOAHXBEGt87mfDkAFN48CNtzSD7ZBlwlH6UhmVnG4ctz8EKTxvnmSDU/w400-h243/oak1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sal's Fiction Addictionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07617706508462340930noreply@blogger.com0